Roller chain



Jan. 8, 1952 H. L. MUELLER ROLLER CHAIN Filed Jan. 2, 1948 lill IN V EN TOR.

2 mm E E L L M E a 0 Mo M T L Y. R OY HB Patented Jan. 8, 1952 ROLLER 01min Homer L. Mueller,:"(3leveland, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland WeldingCompany, Cleveland, hio,'a corporation of. Ohio I An plicationJanuai-y 2, 1948, Serial No. 92

4 Claims. (Cl. 74-245) This invention relates as indicated to roller chains and more particularly to flexible roller chains designed to positively engage toothed gear wheels mounted on different shafts whereby power may be transmitted from one to the other. Roller chains in use today have a number'ot material shortcomings which have heretofore never been successfully overcome. The roller chains of today are composed of a greatnumber of individual rigid link sections'connected to'one another through cotter pins' or the like. Such a chain is very heavy and-quite an expens'iveand complex mechanism to manufacture. --Another shortcoming is the tendency of thechaintobreak due to the shearing of the *pinsconnecting the links together caused by various unequal stresses at high speed. The present day chainsalso have a tendency to curl and become entangled when not in use. Still another disadvantage-isthe necessity to continually oil-the various links to lessen the noise created by the .conventional i chains when running at relatively highspeed. These drawbacks are removed by my invention which is composed of two single fiat metal strips linked to one another by a plurality of spaced, roller-bearing cross-links. I

Therefore it is the primaryobjectof-the invention to provide a continuousljflexible.roller chain of simple and inexpensive structure.

Another object. of this invention is. to provide such a chain which is extremely. light and flexible and yet of great strength under all operating conditions. Y .j v Still another object is to provide such a chain readily adaptable for all types of positively drivenv gears and more particularly for. use on. bicycles or motorcycle gears. 'To the 'accomplishment of the- .foregdirigahd. related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described .and-fparticu-.- larly pointed out in the claims.','

The annexed drawings and the .ipllowing vdescription setforth in detail certain mechanisms embodying the invention," such disclosed means} constituting, however; but two of various me chanical forms in which the principle of "the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section of my new roller chain;

Fig. 2 is a vertical view partly in section. ofv

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewo'fja portion of my chain; .I Fig. 4 is asectional .viewutakenjon 'lineJl- -d o Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a vertical view illustrating one form of attachin means for securing'the ends of the chain together;

Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1, but illustrating another form of my roller chain;

Fig. '7 is a'vertical view partly in section of Fig. 6;'

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the second form of my invention; and

' Fig. 9 is a'sectional view taken on line 9-9 ofFig.6.

Referring now more particularly to the above drawings and especially Figs. 1, 2; 3, ands, one form of my new roller chain comprises two flat tape-like flexible metal strips 2 and 4-"joined to one anotherin' spaced relationship'by a plurality posed thereonduring normal use;

of rigid cross-links 6. Mounted on and carried by the cross-links 6 are an equal number of rollers or collars 8 which are so spaced as to cooperate with the gear teeth of a conventional gear wheel (not shown). The metal strips 2 and 4 are cut to lengths such that when the ends of the strips are united, the required roller chain will be provided. The ends of each of the metal strips 2 and '4 are joined to one another by any conventional means such as by rivets Ill through holes l2.

'The flexible metal strips '2 and 4-'may be of any strong, highlyflexible metal such as strip steel. The gage of said strips should be such that-the chain constructed therefrom may pass over the gear wheels over which" trained without permanent deformation and, of course, the width of said strips should be such that thechain can withstand the maximum tensile loads im-1 In general said-strips are of tape-like-formas shown having a..width several times the-thickness; the thinness 'of'the strips providing the requiredflexibility and the relatively greater width providing the necessary tensilestrength. a

. Thecross-links -6- may beany suitable rigid metal of the necessary strength. Illustrative "of such a metal are small pieces of bar stock which have had each end flattened forming a flat wedge-shaped ends 14. Ihis leavesthe remain-' ing part of the cross-link substantially cylindrical in shape as shown at [5. The wedge-shaped ends Mare the portions which are to be securedin spaced relationship tothe metal strips 2 and 4. ,This may be done by any conventional means suchas welding, riveting, screws or the like. '11- lustrative of one methodthat may be used is the electric spot weldingof the wedge-shaped 5 ends I! to the metal strips 2 and 4 as at [8. When joining the parts in manner, it is expedient to unite them in overlapping relationship in order to provide sufiicient strength and support to the chain. ihecross-links B are spaced on the metal strips 2 and 4 such that the rollers 8 on the cross-links 6 are in cooperation with the teeth of a conventionalgear wheel as in the customary; manner. I While the-foregoing has been illustrative of one form of cross-link adaptable for the present invention, it is in no manner to be construed as a limitation. There are many other materials and methods that. may be used to unite the metal strips 2 and! and carry the rollers 8.

The rollers 8 may be any,-;type iof tubularor .15: The necessity of having afreely rotatcylindrical metal used in conventional roller chains.

I the split edge gn and-"forcing their! around the -.cross-links 6. R The spacmg ot theintegrally formed cross-links, as stated hereinbefore, was such that the mounted rollers 8 are in cooperav tion with the teeth of a conventional gear wheel. ,"Therollers' B are free-rolling and are slightly ing roller is essential and this makes it desirable to use a cylindrical bar stock as the cross-link.

By such a selection, ailproper bearing surface is provided. by the ,bar stbclr ;insuring"I proper strength and freerotationtc. The rollers 8 are preferably mounted on the cross-links 6-priorgto the securing of 'the cross-dinks 45 to the ,metal strips 2 and 4. In the illustrative form given in. Figs. 1 130 4; the rollers 8 are-mounted onTthe cylindrical bar stock and the ends of thebar stock are then crushed intosthe wedge'shape' I4 insuring an adequate fit and preventing any lateral slippage..--.The roller-bearing cross-links are then ready for mounting on the two metal strips Zandt- An alternativ method for mounting isxto use split ring rollers and'insert them in place around the bar stock after the cross-links 6 have been united with the'metal strips 2 and.4. This is accomplished .by spreading the rollers alongthe split edge and then forcing the rollers over the cross-links vl5. The rollers will then snap back into their i inal shape andwill perform as adequately as the firstform described.

'Ihe'embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 is'a second form of my invention.

In describing such embodiments'like'parts will be designated by like numerals. In this form,

the metal strips 2 and '4 and the cross links 6 are integrally formed from a single strip of wide flexible metal. 7 In the formation, thewid'e metal strip is hot rolled to produce the pair of fiat metal strips 2" and 4 on either side and a pl'u rality of spaced mill or bulged sections between said strips 2 and 4. "The mill sections are'so spacedv that the-roller 8 when mountedthereon' will be in cooperation with the'g'ear teethjof the gear wheel. The mill sections are substantially elliptical in shape in their lateral or transverse plane and will serve as the cross-links 5. While the mill section or cross-links 6 have been .de-

scribed as being of a particular design, it is ob bious that many other forms of integral cross links are possible. The reason for the preference for the elliptical-shapedcross links 6 is that it adds additional strength to the complete chain, particularly when used on asmall gear such as found on the rearwheel of a bicycle.

Reference hereinafter will be had to the mill sec-- rip the cpp i hdsoif a d f r s i s flexible edg'ewiseadj'ac ntjtape 'like strips, a pl:

shorter in length th'an the cross-links 5. The cross lin ks fi areinot perfectly elliptical for their tree longuudmai -edges are shaped such as to providea partial bearing surface for the rollers aas shownin Fi '7.

Reference is now to be had to Fig. 5 wherein is shown an illustrative method fOr uniting the ends of the "metal? strip 2;.ahd d-lt'o one-another. It isobvious that anyform of attaching means can be used to connect theendsto form the complete chain such riveting or 'hinging; by some form oft-flexible, hinge. For illustrative purposes :only, 'Fig. :5; shows a plurality of holes drilled in metal strlps z and 4 which are lined up when forming ethe'complete' chainz For sake of strength, itis believedznecessary to overlap the end- 2 andr-li "with' one another respectively. Brads or rivets lflarei-then 'inserted undei aforce in the holes l2 thu's' foririingla very strong chain;

The roller 'chain ofihe preseht' invention'is primarily for use asa bicycleor'mctorcycle chain,

but it is obvious that there areniany other types ofequipment on which it maybe used wher in ispres'ent a toothed amine sear. r

Other modes of gass n the; principle'iof the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details=describexfl, provided thefeatures stated in any' oi thefollowing claims or the equivalent or'sseh hee iemyea.

I therefore particularl' paint utahd distinctly claim as my invention: 1. A flexible-roller chain comprising a pair of flexible edgewise adjacent ftape like .-strips,'a pm rality of spaced cross-Jinks uniting said stripsin parallel spaced relationship; said "cross-links be: ing formed withcylindrical bearingpportions eX- i tending v ma a st s. a d tu u a .c im

drical rollers journall'edpn the bearihgportions said cross-links, said strips'and 'oross-linlgsyzhere joined together being thinner thansuchbearing portions whereby tc iacilitate fle dn bf said ing flattened to a thickness corresponding gene f ally with the thickness ofsaidfstr'ipsj and secured overlapped relation on'pnefside, of fsaid'strlpa, j 2. A flexible rolr'ergchaihj co prisin a; pai 6f rality of spaced c'ros mksgunitingrsaid strips in" parallel spaced relationship, said cross-links being formed with cylindrical earing, portions extend; ing' .between said strips, andftubularvcylindrical rollers journalled onthe'bearing portions of said cross-links, said strips" and I cross-links where joined together being. thinner than such bear ng portions whereby to.

f ilitatjfiexingj of' said stri s, the opposite said,.cross linksbeilig flattened to a thickness corr pending generally with the thicknessof said stripsan'd to a width exceeding the inside diameterof said rollers" whereby to retain -each 'cross link "and roller getherasaunit. z 'f 3. A'flexible'r'oll'er chain comprising" aipairoi iii-Kim? wise adjacent tape-line strips; aplu rality of spaced cross-links uniting said strips in parallel spaced relationship, said cross-links being formed with cylindrical bearing portions extending between said strips, and tubular cylindrical rollers journalled on the bearing portions of said cross-links, said cross-links and strips being integrally formed to provide strips of uniform thickness throughout their lengths, said rollers being slit longitudinally for snapping over said cross-links, the bearing portions of said crosslinks being of non-circular cross-section shape including coaxial opposite arcuate ends of diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said rollers and opposite sides spaced apart a distance less than such inside diameter to facilitate snapping of said rollers over said cross-links.

4. A flexible roller chain comprising a pair of flexible edgewise adjacent tape-like strips, a plurality of spaced cross-links uniting said strips in parallel spaced relationship, said cross-links being formed with cylindrical bearing portions extending between said strips, and tubular cylindrical rollers journalled on the bearing portions of said cross-links, said cross-links and strips be ing integrally formed to provide strips of uniform thickness throughout their lengths, said rollers being slit longitudinally for snapping over said cross-links, the bearing portions of said cross-links being of non-circular cross-section shape including coaxial opposite arcuate ends of diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said rollers and opposite sides spaced apart a distance less than such inside diameter to facilitate snapping of said rollers over said cross-links, such opposite sides being spaced apart a distance exceeding the thickness of said strips whereby to provide substantial bearing portions for journalling said rollers thereon.

HOMER L. MUELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 199,203 Hawkins Jan. 15, 1878 251,377 Reese Dec. 27, 1881 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 307,103 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1929 425,528 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1935 405,845 France Nov. 25, 1909 11,630 France Jan. 25, 1910 (1st Addition 120 405,845) 

